High-throughput SNP genotyping - combining tag SNPs and molecular beacons
Book chapter published in Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms - Methods and Protocols, January 2009
Publisher: Humana Press
The manuscript by Barreiro, Henriques, and Mhlanga explores the application of molecular beacons for high-throughput single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping. Molecular beacons are single-stranded oligonucleotide probes that fluoresce upon hybridization to specific target sequences. The study outlines the process of designing molecular beacons for SNP detection, emphasizing the importance of considering the window of discrimination and utilizing dedicated software packages. The manuscript also discusses the significance of careful primer design and the role of real-time PCR in the genotyping process. An example of the application of molecular beacons for high-throughput SNP scoring of the DC-SIGN locus is provided. The advantages of molecular beacons for SNP genotyping include their ability to detect multiple SNPs in a single reaction and their potential for multiplexing. The manuscript also includes a protocol for the synthesis and characterization of molecular beacons.